Okay. I don't own Darksiders.*Mischievous grin followed by evil laughter and lightning in the background for no apparent reason now.*

Briar

Briar sat at the top of the cliff again, not singing, not moving. Even her wings had stopped their constant gentle fluttering. She stared off into space, not seeing anything. Thinking.

Caedri had been a good friend, even knowing that she was a demon, but he was too headstrong and set in his own ways. There was no way in Heaven or Hell that he would have listened to her about Exitium no matter what she told him. Still, she tried. Can't blame a girl for that.

She would get over his death… eventually.

"Go away, I'm sulking."

The creature who suddenly appeared behind her let out a deep chuckle, "Over the death of an angel?"

"So what if he is… was an angel? So what if I'm a demon? If humans can get over such trivial matters like race then why can't we?"

"You're missing the point."

"Then what is the point Samael? Since you're all-knowing and all-powerful, why don't you tell me what the fucking point is?"

"You loved him."

Briar whipped around to deny the Blood Prince's words but found that she couldn't, "…Maybe at one time, but that was long ago."

"How sweet," he chuckled, "a demon in a forbidden love with an angel."

"Shut up! Besides, it's not like he loved me back…"

"What if he did? You let the Horsemen kill him."

"He didn't. You can't fool me with your lies, Samael. What do you want anyway?"

If Samael was disappointed by the change in topic, he didn't show it, "I came to congratulate you on your victories in the arena."

The she demon got up and gave him a deep bow, "A personal visit from the Blood Prince himself? What an honor."

"You're too smart for your own good, girl." He growled.

"And you're too ugly for yours. Now if you'll excuse me, I suddenly don't want to know what you actually want." With that, Briar took to the air and sped away before Samael could get in another word. Honestly, she didn't know where she was going but she needed to get away from him.

The she demon didn't even slow down as she willed open a tear in the world, intending to go through the Veil.

Only to crash into War.

They tumbled through the Veil until they finally rolled to a stop on the other side.

Briar opened her eyes to find herself wrapped protectively in War's arms and back in the angels' realm.

Then she realized something that made her cling tighter to the Horseman, who cared if she loved Caedri at one time? She had War now. Tough, honorable, un-cuddly War who at least liked her back.

"War…" she whispered into his armor.

The Horseman say up, bringing her with him, "Alina, what is wrong?"

She didn't answer and continued to cling to him which, in turn, made him worried.

"Are you hurt?"

"Ah, no, sorry. Just… give me a minute. I'll be fine."

War did as he was asked and waited while the she demon calmed herself down.

Once she was calm, Briar looked up at him with a smile, "Hi War, done with your mission already?"

"Yes, it ended as you said."

"Of course it did. I didn't tell you some half-assed guess."

"You never tell me anything."

She go up, brushing the dirt from her pants, "You never ask. You know, ask and ye shall receive."

War got up as well, "How do you know Strife?"

"Easy, we ran into each other one day during a big battle I made him mad and he tried to kill me. As he has every time we've met since. Anything else?"

"What is your real name?"

Briar looked at the Horseman, surprised, "You're still on that? I told you, I don't kn-"

"Yes, you do know."

Instead of answering, the she demon ducked back through the Veil between worlds to her home realm. When War followed her through, intent on getting an answer, she was nowhere to be seen.

"Why do you want to know that? 'Alina' has worked so far, why don't we stick to that?" she said, floating upside down, her face inches from his.

"'You' are not 'Alina'."

With a sigh, Briar flipped over and landed in front of the Horseman, "Okay look, to demons like me, our names hold power. Handing over our name is like handing over our mind and body to that person. No command goes undone, no summon unanswered." She turned away, unable to look at him, "I'm sorry War, but I'm not ready for that."

"Do you not trust me?"

"Silly Horseman, if I didn't trust you then last night never would have happened. I-" Briar was interrupted by a loud gunshot.

She stumbled back, clutching at her left shoulder which was gushing blood, "Strife! You son of a bitch! Show yourself!"

Strife stepped out of the shadows, Redemption aimed at Briar, "It wouldn't hurt so damn much if you hadn't moved."

"Yeah, because I'd be dead!"

The older Horseman didn't answer and instead fired two more rounds at the she demon. Both of which were blocked by Chaoseater.

"War! What the fuck are you doing? Why the hell are you protecting the demon?"

"Yeah War," Briar said, stepping past the Red Rider, "why the hell are you protecting the demon? She can protect herself."

"Not while she is injured."

"I get it now! You've got a thing for her too, don't you War?!" The White Rider laughed, "I can't believe this!"

"What's so hard to believe?" the she demon grunted, digging the bullet out, which came out with a sickening pop and a fresh flow of blood. "The fact that your younger brother has a girlfriend or that he has one before you?"

"Damn demon."

"Before you try and kill me again, answer me this: I know you hate me but that's never caused you to hunt me down before, so why now?"

"I'm under strict orders to do so."

"Orders from who?!"

"Who do you think?"

"…The Council… Why would they want me dead now?"

"Confidential."

Strife aimed both Mercy and Redemption at Briar but before he could pull the trigger, she took off like a shot.

"Dammit!" He summoned Conquest and chased after. War, who was just as surprised as Briar, summoned Ruin and went after both of them, intent on stopping his brother.

Briar flew as fast as she could with her injured shoulder but knew she wouldn't be able to keep it up for long.

Why was the Council after her life now of all times? Did they find out about her connection with the angels? With Samael? There wasn't much of one there but they'd probably use any excuse they could now. Her brother was supposed to keep them off her back, what happened to that? She didn't even remember actively going against them so why?! Unless… no, it couldn't be…

Her relationship with War. Maybe they were worried about her corrupting him or whatever. That she could somehow mess up his loyalty to them… As if! Which begged the question: Would he try and kill her now too? Briar couldn't fight him, not like that.

Maybe… maybe if it was him… it would be okay. But okay or not, if either of them was going to kill her, they'd have one Hell of a time trying to catch her. She would make sure of that.

The she demon glanced back over her shoulder to see Strife and Conquest catching up.

Okay, maybe they would have an easier time than she'd hoped.

Behind her, Strife aimed Mercy at Briar and fired.

Hearing the gunshot, the she demon quickly tried to dodge out of the way but didn't quite make it. The bullet hit her right wing, tearing straight through it. Her wings being filled with nerve endings, she cried out in pain and crashed to the ground, rolling to a stop after a few yards.

"You bastard! Do you have any idea how long it takes these things to heal?!"

Ignoring her, Strife dismounted and stood above the curled up demon, Mercy aimed at her head and Redemption at her heart.

"At least… at least tell me why… the Council wants me dead."

The Horseman chuckled, "Here's a secret, demon bitch, that damnable Council didn't order me to do nothing. I'm just tired of you and your mouth."

"I could say the same thing. Alright, you heard him War."

"What?" Strife turned and was hit by the flat end of Chaoseater, effectively knocking him out cold.

Briar tried to get up but was in too much pain to do so, "You know he'll be mad and probably come after you when he wakes up right?"

War picked his demon up and set her on Ruin. "He can try." He said, jumping up behind her.

"Oh well, maybe it'll get him off my back for a while…"